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EU bids to lure Belarus towards democracy

The EU is to offer the Belarusian authorities closer political and economic ties in return for moves towards democracy. In a bid to capitalise on tensions between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and the Kremlin, diplomats are pressing for the EU to create a package of measures that could be presented to Belarus in a matter of days.

The package, dubbed a shadow action plan, would require the regime to make steps toward democratisation in return for greater access to the EU’s internal market.

The plan mimics the economic and political partnerships that the EU currently has with Ukraine, Moldova and other countries that are part of the EU’s neighbourhood policy.

Belarus has so far been excluded from any co-operation because of a series of rigged elections and human rights abuses. Some 36 members of the ruling regime are currently banned from travelling in the EU and have their assets in the EU frozen.

The EU has long pursued a policy of sanctioning Belarus’s leadership at the same time as supporting non-governmental groups. Now that policy appears to be shifting.

Some member states and the European Commission have been in disagreement over proposals to revoke Belarus’s trade privileges in response to years of prevarication on labour standards. But Poland, Lithuania and Italy successfully blocked efforts to impose sanctions.

Their position appeared to be validated earlier this month when Lukashenko promised to change trade union legislation, to make it easier for unions to operate.

Some diplomats have treated Lukashenko’s announcement as a sign that Belarus is ready to engage with EU, amid rows with Russia over attempts to reform the Commonwealth of Independent States and gas prices.

But democracy activists from Belarus are sceptical that Lukashenko will follow through on his commitment. One source said that the EU should pursue projects that help Belarusian students study abroad.

On Monday (16 October) the Commission launched a €4.5 million-programme to fund Belarusian students who have been refused access to universities at home for political reasons.